A Healthy Church

Intro:

Open up to 1 Peter 5:1-5 ..... we only have two more sermons in this packed letter of Peter to scattered beleivers!

This morning, Do you know what makes a healthy church? More specifically..... do you know what makes a good pastor and what makes a good a church member?

I was preparing this week and thinking about this passage and that question.... and I walked into my old office.... Starbucks… and it is a magical time of year.... the Christmas blend is out.... and I absolutely love it..... but....that’s not why I am here today to talk about Christmas blend coffee...My office was at Starbucks for about 2 years while church planting.....and one day the barista asked..... what is your job?.... I said, I am a pastor.... and his response has stuck with me to this day, because it is possible that others truly believe this.... “Oh, so all you do is prepare a speech each week?”.....

Of course, that is not true..... but the question is.... what makes a Good pastor? Is he merely a speech giver or is there more on his plate?

More importantly, does the Bible also instruct what a church member should and shouldn’t do.....

This morning, in 1 Peter 5:1-5, Peter is going to transition to instruct, encourage, and challenge us to see what makes a healthy church..... namely, what is the role of the pastor and what is the role of the church members.

1 Peter 5:1–5 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

A Healthy Church has a Shepherd(s)

Who is this shepherd?

a. He is an Elder (verse 1)- not necessarily older in age..... but spiritually mature.... spiritually set apart for leading spiritually.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

b. He is a pastor/shepherd (verse 2) - These words are special to Peter.......

John 21:15–17 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

A good pastor will tend the sheep, take care of the sheep and feed the sheep. What is the source of food.... the Word of God, the expounding, exegeting, and application of the Word of God to the sheep of the flock!

c. He is an overseer (verse 2)- He provides oversight, supervising, and watching over the physical, spiritual, and future of the church.

He is all of these things wrapped up into 1...... (Some denominations/churches will split out all three of these, but here Peter makes it clear that the New Testament understanding is that the elder is a pastor is an overseer....the same guy!)

1 Timothy 3 “1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

1. The shepherd must avoid the pitfalls and sins of leadership

lazyness, greed, abuse of power - John Calvin

a. Willingly.....not under compulsion (verse 2)- Pastors should aspire to their roles within the church and they should be following God’s will in doing that role. There should not be a something that they begrudgingly....or force themself to do. They should also be mindful of their time, effort and energy.... and this is where John Calvin points out..... Laziness is creeping at the door..... pride is knocking at the door..... control is knocking at the door......

b. Not for Greed (verse 2) - They are to be provided for by the church, but the Gospel and the Church are not a money making business...... the pastor isn’t making financial gains off of his likeness and image.... this isn’t the NCAA and amatuer athletes......

c. Not domineering (verse 3)- but serving as an example

Mark 10:42–44 ESV

42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

2 Corinthians 1:24 ESV

24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

This servant heart is what Peter goes on to demand of these pastors....... be a servant leader like Jesus was to him!

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.... Lord Acton.... A pastor is not after absolute power and control.... a pastor is to lead by his servant example to the Flock!.

2. The shepherd leads by example (v. 3-4)

A good pastor looks backwards to Jesus’ sacrifice and looks forward to Jesus’ reward that awaits. - Commentary

Jesus is the head of this church.... who is the boss? Jesus! Always! No matter who stands in this pulpit.... no matter the name on the website.... no matter the name in the by-laws..... Jesus is the Cheif Shepherd...... Men can elder, pastor, and oversee...... because Jesus is the perfect example to follow and the perfect and good shepherd!

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

This is also a key point for us in considering the pastoral ministry..... there is a huge burden.......

What does the pastor teach?

What does the pastor counsel?

How does he lead?

How does he spend his time in his schedule?

How does he lead his family well?

How does he love his wife well?

His life is in a fishbowl to the congregation.... but the ultimate accountability is the Lord himself!

As you think of a pastor/elder being an example to the flock..... the question must be answered.... to whom does he need to shepherd....who is the flock? All people? All believers? Where do we define the sheep?

He pastors the sheep in his flock - He shepherds those that are alloted to his oversight

Two implications of this flock language and pastors....

Join a church as a member so that it is clear that you are being shepherded by the pastor.

Involve yourself regularly in the life of the gathered church (Sundays, Wednesdays.....)

Peter gives us a command for these sheep.... for the everyday church member..... humility.

A Healthy Church has Humble Sheep

Throughout the letter of 1 Peter there is a theme of submission and subjecting yourself to the authority in your life.... here in the life of the church this is also true.....

1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Sheep are used again as the imagery and the metaphor through which we best understand the life of a believer in the local church......

Psalm 23 (ESV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23- The shepherd theme for God’s leaders and the sheep for God’s people

Matthew 25:32 - He will separate as a shepherd the sheep and the goats

In John, Jesus is the Good Shepherd.... Peter here calls him the Chief Shepherd!

1. Humility should define church members.

Primarily Peter addresses the “Young ones” in the church.... quite possibly the ones that needed to hear it the most...... like the teacher in the classroom that gives directions to everyone.... but then makes sure that “Johnny” here’s exactly what she is saying!

Here is the truth..... a good church member submits and obeys the leadership of the pastor(s) in the church in humility not pride.

Does that make you squirm a bit? in our american culture.... we do not want anyone telling me what to do..... that is engrained in us.... and here in the Bible.... through the Holy Spirit leading him.... Peter writes this..... be subject to the elders.....

The command is clothe yourself...... literally think about the idea of putting on clothes..... what a joy it is when your children can go from you dressing them to choosing to put on their own clothes..... sometimes, let’s admit it is fun to see what our young children choose to wear..... but it is a life skill..... put on clothes because if not, you will end up in jail.....Amen!

As followers of Christ..... we have two choices in the life of the church here presented by Peter..... be prideful....and be opposed by God.....or be humble and have God’s grace shown to you!

So.... how do you practically fulfill this command to clothe yourself with humility in the life of the church?

Admission..... There are bad pastors.... There are bad church members...... so the command here can be fulfilled in the life of the church through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us......

John Piper describes it like this......

1. a bent toward trusting - Build on time, relationship, and consistency.... you trust the pastor because God has placed him in your life and in your church for a reason.

2. disposition toward support - When the pastor puts forward a vision for the forward movement of the church or an emphasis in ministry.... you are naturally leaning towards supporting it.

3. wanting to imitate - As Hebrews 13:7 says to imitate your leaders.... their faith, their passion, their habits, their pursuit of Jesus is something you would want to replicate in your life

4. inclination to comply - A Happy inclination to follow the instructions of the pastor

Conclusion

All of this..... a good pastor.... a good church member is built upon dealing with verse 5...... Pride verses humility..... but it is built upon the grace and forgiveness found in Jesus.

Adam and Eve’s first sin is a slap to God’s face of PRIDE...... We don’t believe God… We are going to do it our way.... our desire..... and that sin.... over and over in the Bible.... God opposes it.... God is against it.... and His wrath awaits the sinner in prideful sin!

God grace.... his forgiveness… his lovingkindness is shown towards the humble.... Jesus was the perfect humble servant..... he humbled himself to be crucified on a cross, die the death you deserve.... Raised to life… .so that we might be forgiven.

This morning...... Do you know this grace? Have you humbled yourself to admitting you are a sinner in need of forgiveness from Jesus Christ alone! There is a free gift of grace by faith!

What is God doing in your heart this morning.... are you a good church member? Every time I read these passages.... it is like a scalple…a good look in the mirror for God to work in and on my heart as a pastor.... I hope and pray that is true for you as well! Are you a healthy church member?

Today..... may be the day you choose to join this flock… to take the step of commitment to be a part of the LCBC flock.

Maybe this morning you want to be baptized! Let’s do it!